Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-10-30
CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER vi.
The next day the friend snd legal ad-
wiser of Agnes Lockwood, Mr.. Troy, call
ed on her by appointment in the evening.
Mrs. Ferrari-still persisting in the
conviction of her husbands death-had
sufficiently recovered to be present at the
consultation. Assisted by Agnes, she
| told the lawyer the little that was known
| relating to Ferrari's disappearance, and
h pIoduced the correspondence connect
ed with that event. Mr.. Troy read (frstl
the three addressed by Ferrari to his wife;
| (secondly) the letter written ny Ferrar1's
courier friend, describing his visit to the
palace and his interview with Lady Mont
barry: and Thirdly the n line of anony-
nous writing which had accompanied the
extraordinary gift of a thousand pounds to
Ferrari's wife.
Well known, at a later period, as the
LAWYER who acted for Lady Lydisrd, in the
case of theft, generally described as the
case of "My Lady's Money" Mr.. Troy
was not only a man of learning and expe-
rience in his professionally was also a
man who had seen something Of society at
home and abroad. He possessed a keen
eve for character, q quaint humor, and a
| kindly nature, which had not been dete-
riorated even by a lawyers professional
experience of mankind. With all these
personal advantages, it Is q question,
nevertheless, whether, he was the httest
adviser whom Agnes could have chosen
under the circumstances Little Mrs.
Ferrari, with many domestic merits, was
an essentially commonplace woman. MT.
Troy was the last person living who was
likely to attract her sympathies-he was
the exact opposite OF 4 commonplace man.
"She looks very i'll, poor thing"' In
these words the lawyer opened the business
of the evening, referring to Mrs. Ferrarl as
unc%eremoniously az if she had been out OF
the room.
"She has suffered q terrible shock" Ag.
mes answered.
Mr.. Troy turned 10 Mrs. Ferrari and
looked at her again, with the interest due
to the victim OF a shock. He drummed
absently with his fingers on the table. At
last he spoke to her.
"My good lady, you don't really believe
that your husband is dead?"
Mrs. Ferrari put her handkerchief To her
eyes. The word dead" was Intellectual
to express her feelings. 'Murderedn' she
said, sternly, behind her handkerchief
"Why? And by whom?" Mr.. Troy
asked.
Mrs. Ferrari seemed to find some diff
Guilty in answering. "YOu have read my
husbands letter, sir" she began. II be-
Iieye he discovered''- She got "a far as
that, and there he stopped.
What did he discover There are
limits to human patience-even the pa
tierce of a bereaved wife. This cool ques-
ton irritated Mrs. Ferrari into expressing
herself plainly at last.
"He discovered Lady Montbarry and
the Baron!" she answed, with a burst
of hysterical vehemence. Baron IS no
more that vile wOman's brother than | am.
The wickedness of those two wretcnes
came to my poor, dear husbands knowl-
edge. The lady's maid left her place on
account of it. If Ferrari hal gone away,
too, he would have been alive at this
moment. They have killed him. l say
they have killed him, TO prevent it trom
getting to Lord MOntbarry's ears." So, in
short, sharp sentences, and in louder and
louder accents, Mrs. Ferrari stated her
opinion of the case.
Still keeping his own view in reserve,
Mr.. Troy listened with an expression OF
s~atirical approval.
every strongly stated, Mrs. Ferrari, y he
said. 'You build up your sentences well
you clinch your conclusions in q work
manlke manner. IT you had been a man
you would have made a good lawyer-you
would have taken iuries by the scruff OF
their necks. Complete the case, my good
lady-complete the case. Tell us next
who sent you this letter, incloslng the
bankpote. The two wretches who muir
dered Mr.. Ferrari would hardly put their
hands in their pockets and send you
81, 900. Who is Itch? / see the post
mark on the letter is Venice Have you
auy friend in that interesting city with a
large heart, and a purse to correspond,
who has been let into the secret and who
wishes to console you anonymously"
1t was not easy to reply to this. Mrs.
Ferrari began to feel the first inward ap-
breaches of something like hatred toward
Mr.. Troy. 81 don't understand you sir. "
she answered. 81 don't think this is a
joking matter"
Agnes interfered for the first time. She
drew her chair q little nearer to her legal
counselor and friend.
what is the most probable explana'
ton, in your opiGiUn?n she asked.
II shall offend Mrs. Ferrari if tell
you" Mr.. Troy answered.
mo, sir, you won't!' cried Mrs. Fer
rari, hating Mr.. Troy undisguisediy by
this time.
The lawyer leaned back in his chair.
Every we'll" he said, in his most good
humored manner Lets have it out.
Observe, madame, | don't dispute your
view of affairs at the place In
Venice. You have your husbands letters
TO Justify you, and You have also the sig.
nifcant fact that Lady Montbsrry's maid
did really leave the house. We will say,
then. that Lord Montbarry has presuma-
bly, been made the victim of a foul wrong;
that Mr.. Ferrari was the first TO find 1t
out, and that the guilty persons had rea-
sons to fear, not only that he would &C
quaint Lord Montharry with his discovery,
but that he would be a principal witness
against them If the scandal wa made pub
lie in a court oflaw. Now mark! admit
ting all this, | draw a totally different
conclusion from the conclusion at
which you have arrived. Here is
your husband left in this miserable house
hold OF three, under very awkward cir
cum .ances for him. What does he do?
But Ior the banknote and the written mes
sage sent to you with it, l should say that
he had wisely with drawn himself from
association with ~disgraceful discovery and
exposure by taking secretly TO flight. The
money modiies this Internationally so
far as Mr.. Ferrari is concerned. / still be
lievs he is keeping out of the way. But
l now say he is paid for keeping out o: the
way-and that hanknote there on the table
is the price OF his absence paid By the
guilty persons to his wife"
Mrs. Ferrsri's watery gray eyes bright
ened suddenly; Mrs. Ferrsri's dull, drab-
coiored complexion became erlivened by a
glow Of brilliant red
'It's false !" she cried. "lt'sa burning
shame to speak of my husband in that
way ~